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Home › Articles › Conditions Affecting Conception and Pregnancy › From Mood Swings to Baby Swings

From Mood Swings to Baby Swings

Clinical Depression and Conception

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

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Prepare Yourself
When planning for a baby, parents will read, paint, buy, prepare and do all they can to help baby feel welcomed and loved. Douglas says a woman who suffers from depression needs to add one very important thing to the planning: her own well being. "Women with a history of depression who embark on a pregnancy should do whatever they can to minimize stress both prior to and after the birth," she says. "Because they face an increased risk of experiencing postpartum depression, they may want to line up some additional help on the home front – perhaps contracting the services of a postpartum doula or asking a relative to pitch in for a while. Don't be afraid to say, 'I need help,' and then take it."

If you're experiencing a period of acute depression, Douglas warns that it's not a good time to contemplate a pregnancy. That doesn't mean you'll never be a mother; it just means you'll get there a little later than you planned.

"Pregnancy requires a certain amount of emotional resilience," she says. "You need to have the emotional energy to cope with the inevitable highs and lows and the assorted aches and pains of pregnancy, and it's hard to feel up to these challenges if you're struggling with depression. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your family. But most of all, talk to yourself to make sure you are ready – mentally and emotionally – for the challenge and the glory of being a parent."

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